Creeper (band)

Creeper are an English horror punk band from Southampton. Formed in 2014, the group currently features vocalist Will Gould, guitarists Ian Miles and Oliver Burdett (who replaced Sina Nemati in 2015), bassist Sean Scott, drummer Dan Bratton and keyboardist Hannah Greenwood. Creeper released their self-titled debut extended play (EP) Creeper in 2014, which was followed by The Callous Heart and The Stranger on Roadrunner Records in 2015 and 2016, respectively. They are set to release their debut full-length album Eternity, in Your Arms in 2017.

History

2014–16: Formation and early years

Creeper were formed in Southampton in 2014 by vocalist Will Gould and guitarist Ian Miles, formerly of post-hardcore band Our Time Down Here, along with guitarist Sina Nemati (formerly of Hang the Bastard), bassist Sean Scott and drummer Dan Bratton.^[1] The quartet self-released their self-titled debut EP on 19 June 2014, which was later issued as a limited edition 12" vinyl by Palm Reader Records.^[2] The band played their first headline show at the Joiners Arms on 1 August,^[3] followed by their first show in London at The Old Blue Last on 13 September and a stint supporting Welsh group Funeral for a Friend.^[4][5] In June 2015 the group signed with Roadrunner Records and played at Download Festival.^[6]

The band's second EP, The Callous Heart, was released on 18 September 2015 and promoted at a special launch show three days before at London's Old Blue Last.^[7][8] Later in the year, the group toured with Misfits and Moose Blood.^[7] In December 2015, it was announced that Nemati had left Creeper in order to "concentrate on his sound engineering career in London", while touring keyboardist Hannah Greenwood was upgraded to a full-time member.^[1][9] The group's third EP, The Stranger, was released on 19 February 2016 and supported by a headline tour with Scottish support band Grader, as well as dates supporting Neck Deep and WSTR.^[1][9] The EP reached number 9 on the UK Rock & Metal Albums Chart.^[10] In May 2016, Creeper supported Black Veil Brides vocalist Andy Biersack on his Homecoming Tour,^[11] and later opened for Funeral for a Friend at their final show on 21 May 2016 at the O2 Forum.

2016–present: Eternity, in Your Arms

After Creeper performed at the Reading and Leeds Festivals in August 2016, the band's Twitter account began posting images of white noise, before their personal accounts were hidden or removed.^[12] A Southampton-based phone number used to promote The Stranger then featured a new voicemail message, which provided a link to a website detailing "the disappearance of James Scythe", which features references to the band's EPs.^[12] On 2 October 2016, the band resurfaced with the announcement of their debut full-length album. Titled Eternity, in Your Arms, the album is due to be released on 24 March 2017, and was promoted by the release of lead single "Suzanne".^[13] Gould offered the following explanation of the album's inspiration: "Eternity, in Your Arms is a record, this time not only about being young and heartbroken, but about transition, about age and loss. Not only the loss of life, but the loss of ourselves. The pieces of the people we were."^[13] The band later supported Pierce the Veil alongside Letlive on a tour of the UK and Europe, which started on 29 October and will run until 6 December.^[14]

Critical reception

Creeper have been praised by numerous music critics and commentators. Tom Connick of DIY magazine described the band's self-titled EP as an example of "perfectly executed punk rock", comparing their sound to that of Alkaline Trio and AFI.^[15] In a later review of third EP The Stranger, Connick claimed that Creeper were quickly becoming "one of the country’s most vibrant and vital new bands".^[16] Writing in September 2014 about the group's second show, Gavin Lloyd of TeamRock described them as "one of the UK's most exciting new bands", praising them for demonstrating "a refreshing change from the majority of bands in the current rock and punk scene peddling the same ideas".^[4]

Band members

Current members

• Will Gould – vocals (2014–present)
• Ian Miles – guitar, backing vocals (2014–present)
• Oliver Burdett – guitar (2015–present)
• Sean Scott – bass (2014–present)
• Dan Bratton – drums (2014–present)
• Hannah Greenwood – keyboards , backing vocals (2015–present; touring 2014–15)

Former members

• Sina Nemati – guitar (2014–15)

Discography

Studio albums

Extended plays

Music videos

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Creeper (punk band).

• Official website